Alleged gunmaker in custody

A man who told the Portland police that he was held up and shot by armed men, is now a suspect and is in custody. According to a police report, a male resident of Springfield in the Hope Bay Valley was rushed to hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the fingers.

The man reportedly had three of his fingers blown off and gave a statement to the police that he was accosted in the community by two men, who robbed and also questioned him about the whereabouts of another resident.

The police said that the man, whose name has been withheld pending further investigation, also told them that he placed his hand over the muzzle of the gun and was shot by one of the men.

But during an intense investigation, the police said that intelligence gathered revealed that the injured man is reportedly involved in the making of home-made handguns that are allegedly sold to criminal elements.

The police also said it was during the making of one of the handguns that the man was shot.